Prison escapee given three-year sentence

The man who climbed a drainpipe and leapt from a roof in
a prison break before spending a week on the run has been given
three years to dwell on his decision.

Stephen Uriah Maddren (25) was yesterday sentenced by Judge
Kevin Phillips to three years' jail for the June escape, and
other offences.

Maddren managed the rooftop escape - becoming the first
inmate to escape since the Otago Corrections Facility opened
at Milburn in 2007 - on June 3.

''You were remanded in custody - you didn't like it,'' Judge
Phillips told him at sentencing in the Dunedin District
Court.

That remand came after crimes earlier in the year, including
breaking into a Hillside Rd rest-home, which Judge Phillips
described as ‘‘really full on'', considering the age and
vulnerabilityof the occupants.

''The chances were there could have been a confrontation.''

Maddren received his cumulative sentence for the escape and
burglary, receiving credit, debit, identification and fuel
cards, and the theft of a bicycle.

''I consider this an appropriate response to your overall
offending.''

Maddren escaped from the Otago Corrections Facility at
Milburn by climbing the drainpipe and jumping from a height
of two or three storeys.

He stayed on the run despite the effort of police and prison
officers.

He was found seven days later curled up in a hot-water
cupboard in a shearers' residence in Milton, after being
found by a resident.

A stash of pies, hot dogs and cheese rolls was found in the
cupboard.

Maddren, wearing jeans and a grey and black jacket, stood
still and quiet, with his eyes either on the judge or
downcast yesterday.

Of the rest-home burglary on May 11, Judge Phillips said
Maddren entered the Radius Fulton Care Centre, ‘‘clearly
looking for property you could sell''.

The cards he received he kept ‘‘I'm sure, for dishonest
purposes''.

While discussing the sentences, Judge Phillips said there
needed to be a deterrent aspect.

From a starting point of a cumulative sentence of four years
and three months, Judge Phillips subtracted 25% for a guilty
pleas, and 5% for mental health issues.